Fastening device for wall-board, &amp;c.



C. A. UPSON.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR WALL BOARD, &c.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. Is.-I9I8.

l ,297,6 l 1. Patented Mar. 18, I919.

III

WITNESS IN VEN TOR CHARLES A. UPSON, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

FASTENING DEVICE FOR WALL-BOARD, &o.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application led December 16, 1918. Serial No. 266,847.

2 'o all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. UrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lockport, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenin Devices for Wall-Board, &c., of which the ollowingis a speciicatiom reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.`

This invention has for its object to provide an improved blind fastener for use in securing wallboard in place in such a manner as to -avoid nailing through the fasteners within their edges and thus to avoid disgurin the exposed surface ofthe board. As willpbe apparent, the improved fastener is applicable to other specific uses ofa similar character in which a blind fastener is desirable. The specic purposesin-view. in the present case are to facilitate the securing of the .fastener to the studding or other part to which the wall board is to be secured, to assure the firm and permanent .engagement between the fastener and the wallboard, and to prevent the tendency of the wallboard to slip to one side or the other as it is being applied. The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated, and in which- Fi re 1 is a view in front elevation, showing the improved fastener in place against the studding.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same as seen from .the left hand in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the same as seen from above, the position of the wallboard, as it is being applled, being also shown.

Fig. L is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the wallboard driven home upon the fastener.

The improved fastener consists of a thin, flat, metal plate a of any desired form, it

being shown in the drawlng as rectangular.'

It has', extending from one edge inward, a nailing slot b. It has also, preferably struck up because of economy in manufacture, two prongs c which are slightly bent away from the central plane, so that when the wallboard is forced against them, as by pounding', theywill enter the wallboard and will be spread laterally, all as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.' In order that any tendency of the board to draw away from the prongs may be overcome, they are so formed,

as shown at d.

c, that they will become firmly anchored in the Wall board, the material of which will close around the toothed or barbed prongs and engage the same. IIn the practical use of blind fasteners of this character, it has Ibeen found that in applying the wallboard it will sometimes slip to one side, one of the prongs c remaining substantially straight While the other is bent more. To overcome this tendenc the fastener is provided with a perpen 'cular pro d, which may also be toothed or barbe or otherwise formed to engage the wallboard, This perpendicular prong enters the wallboard as soon as it has been started upon the bent prongs o and then prevents any lateral. slipping of the wallboard.

In the use of the improved fastener the nail e is rst driven into the studding f, but is not driven home. The fastener a is then slipped upon the nail, by means of the slot b, this operation being much more easily eected in this manner than would be possible if the hole for the nail did not extend to the edge, which would require both the fastener and the nail to be held while the nail is struck by the hammer. When the fastener has been secured in position by driving the nail home, the wallboard is placed against the ends of the prongs c and is forced home, as by blows of a hammer or mallet against apiece of board laid against the front surface of the wallboard. In this operation the prongs c, which are already bent apart somewhat, are caused to bend farther apart, as shown in Fig. 4, and at the same time the per endicular prong d' is made to enter the wa lboard so as to prevent lateral slip.

I claim as-my invention:

1. A blind fastener for wallboard, etc., to be laced between the wallboard and the stu ding to which the wallboard is to be fastened, lconsisting of a thin, Hat, metal plate having a slot opening from one edge to receive a fastening means to secure the plate to a studding and provided on the side toward the wallboard with struck-up prongs having pointed ends and so bent that they will enter the w-allboard and spread laterally to engage and retain it when the wallboard is forced against the fastener.

2. A blind fastener for wallboard, etc., to be placed between the wallboard and the studdi to which the wallboard is to be fastene consisting of a thin, dat, metal plate having an opening thereinto receive a fastening means to secure the late to a studdin and provided on the si e toward the Wal board with struck-up prongs having pointed ends and so bent that they will enter the wallboard and spread laterally to engage and retain it when the wallboard is` forced against the fastener, the prongs being formed to` become anchored in the Wallboard.

3.'A blind fastener for wallboard, etc., to

be placed between the -wallboard and theto which the wallboard is tol be a studdin fastene consistmg of a thm, at, metal plate having :an'opening therein to receive a 16 plate to a .forced against the fastener, the plate alsov lhavlng a perpendicular prong to venter the wallboard and prevent lateral slip of the same.

This specification signed-this 10th day of December, A. D. 1918.

` CHARLES A. UPSON. 

